The new Falcon, Joaquin Torres, was experimented on by the Serpent Society. Using Captain America’s pet Redwing, they turned Joaquin into a half human half bird. But because Redwing has a telepathic bond with Captain America Sam Wilson, that bond was transferred over to Joaquin as well. This allowed Sam to transfer his thoughts to Joaquin, teaching him how to fight, and allowed him to go toe to toe with the Serpent Society even if he was outnumbered.
Another nifty trait the Falcon gained from Redwing is a healing factor, allowing him to recover from a fatal attack.
From – Captain America: Sam Wilson #6
