Gender Controversy
According to the instruction manual of Super Mario Bros. 2, one of the Birdos seen in that game is actually a boy who thinks he is a girl and likes to be called Birdetta. This is actually a decent localization, and contrary to popular belief, not incorrect. Birdo is known as Catherine in Japan, and also in Western manuals of Wario's Woods. In Japan, Catherine is male as well, and likes to believe that he is a girl. Like Birdo, he likes to be called Cathy. The misconception that the character is female in Japan is due to the fact that Catherine is a feminine name, but in the past, hardly anyone ever translated his Japanese profiles, which all say that he is male since his debut in Doki Doki Panic. Due to his nature, both "he" and "she" are acceptable when referring to Birdo, but the character is still physically male.
Birdo's gender has been a source of dispute for many fans. Nintendo of America has chosen to censor Birdo in later appearances to avoid potential controversy amongst the American public by removing any statement saying that he is really male. In Mario Strikers Charged for the Nintendo Wii, however, he is once again referred to as male in English, so that policy may be slowly fading away. Also, in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Popple pauses before settling on calling Birdo a "dame", which is contributed by his own confusion on the matter. There is said to be both a species and a character named Birdo. In the games, the individual character seems to be the only pink one, and the only one which now wears a diamond ring. It seems more than likely that Birdo is female, but others that are reffered to as male, are different Birdos. In official art for Mario Tennis, Yoshi and Birdo are seen to be foundling one another. What this could actually mean about either of them is up to the speculator.
Originally posted by Neo Darkhalen
Gender Controversy
According to the instruction manual of Super Mario Bros. 2, one of the Birdos seen in that game is actually a boy who thinks he is a girl and likes to be called Birdetta. This is actually a decent localization, and contrary to popular belief, not incorrect. Birdo is known as Catherine in Japan, and also in Western manuals of Wario's Woods. In Japan, Catherine is male as well, and likes to believe that he is a girl. Like Birdo, he likes to be called Cathy. The misconception that the character is female in Japan is due to the fact that Catherine is a feminine name, but in the past, hardly anyone ever translated his Japanese profiles, which all say that he is male since his debut in Doki Doki Panic. Due to his nature, both "he" and "she" are acceptable when referring to Birdo, but the character is still physically male.Birdo's gender has been a source of dispute for many fans. Nintendo of America has chosen to censor Birdo in later appearances to avoid potential controversy amongst the American public by removing any statement saying that he is really male. In Mario Strikers Charged for the Nintendo Wii, however, he is once again referred to as male in English, so that policy may be slowly fading away. Also, in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Popple pauses before settling on calling Birdo a "dame", which is contributed by his own confusion on the matter. There is said to be both a species and a character named Birdo. In the games, the individual character seems to be the only pink one, and the only one which now wears a diamond ring. It seems more than likely that Birdo is female, but others that are reffered to as male, are different Birdos. In official art for Mario Tennis, Yoshi and Birdo are seen to be foundling one another. What this could actually mean about either of them is up to the speculator.