Men are most certainly not guys. Children are not kids, and girls are not chicks. Check which forum you're in before you post
If you don't like bird, there's always tart or bint. Much more polite than slag, bitch or who',(which I think the Hip-hop community in London has now borrowed from the yank hip-hop community) but still with plenty of character (not necessarily of the shady variety) implied. If you're looking at a girl with class on the other hand, there's always Laydee (in the Eastend sense)
you need a slap!!! i just refer to the female of the species as girls.. unless they're obviously to old to even be considered a girl.. then you call em old biddies.. but when addressing a female friend i always you've affectionate terms like honey or babe. generally.