Re: Are male and female cardinals (birds) distinguishable when hatched?

When cardinals hatch - they do not have feathers. The color/size 
differences that distiguish males from females only becomes noticable at 
puberty -- which for this species is a matter of many weeks. (Refer to 
ornithology text for exact age)
Genetically, however, the birds are programmed at conception ---- and 
assuming they are normal -- are destined to be male or female. Unlike some 
animals that can be environmentally manipulated to be male or female(some 
turtle species) -- or even do a psuedo-switch of sex (as in clown fish).