Birdo

Birdo, known in Japanese as Catherine (キャサリン, Kyasarin), is a recurring fictional character in the Mario franchise by Nintendo. She first appeared as a boss in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, which was later rebranded as Super Mario Bros. 2 for Western audiences, thereby introducing her into the Mario universe. Birdo is characterized by her pink color, a funnel-shaped mouth capable of firing eggs as projectiles. Early descriptions of Birdo in the English manual for Super Mario Bros. 2 stated that “he thinks he is a girl,” leading to her being recognized as one of the earliest transgender characters in video games, although Nintendo has since moved away from this portrayal. Birdo has appeared in numerous Mario spin-off games, often as a neutral character or an ally, sometimes even partnering with Yoshi. She has various color variations and forms throughout the series, appearing in games like Mario Kart and Mario Tennis. Birdo's gender identity has long been a point of discussion among fans. Despite the initial ambiguity, she is often seen as a female character in recent titles, although Nintendo has avoided definitive pronouncements.