Redwing is an American Kestrel falcon and partner to Sam Wilson, AKA Falcon. The pair are telepathically linked and use their bond to aid Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America. With Sam, Redwing becomes a full-fledged Avenger who fights fearsome foes.
Red-Feathered Falcon
Redwing hails from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where Samuel “Snap” Wilson purchases and names him, or so Sam thinks. When Sam crash lands on the Island of Exiles in a failed attempt to hijack a mob plane full of money, he is found with his unusual pet falcon by the criminal subversive Johann Schmidt, AKA Red Skull. Red Skull alters Wilson’s mind and body in a plot to create an agent that would befriend and eventually betray Captain America. Using a Cosmic Cube, the Red Skull reverts Sam to his pre-criminal mindset and secretly links him telepathically with Redwing, as well as planting a desire for heroics.
After aiding Sam and Captain America (who was, at the time, in the Red Skull’s body) against the Exiles and the Red Skull, Redwing accompanies Sam (now the crimefighter known as Falcon) back to Harlem, New York, where Falcon sets himself up as a solo crimefighter.
Shortly thereafter, Falcon begins a partnership with Captain America, with Redwing aiding them against several villains including Rocky the Lynx, AKA Diamond Head, Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.)’s Bulldozer android, the gangster Stone Face, and Dr. Erik Gorbo. Redwing was even briefly turned to stone during a battle with the Grey Gargoyle.
During a battle against Jordan Dixon, AKA Viper, Redwing fails to retrieve the antidote to the Viper’s poison, prompting Falcon to train Redwing heavily in retrieval thereafter, and first revealing the psychic bond between the two when Falcon managed to telepathically summon Redwing against the S.H.I.E.L.D. "Wild Bill" robot.
Bird’s Eye View
Redwing possesses the qualities typical of a highly-trained American Kestrel falcon, including thin tapered wings capable of flight and quick change of aerial direction. Redwing also has exceptional vision, able to spot a target from several miles away, and sharp talons capable of rending flesh. Like most birds, Redwing also has a sharp beak, sufficient enough to cut a leather whip in two.
Redwing shares a telepathic link with his trainer/partner, Falcon. This link also allows Redwing to understand orders given to him in English, whether verbally or telepathically by Falcon. Due to the link, Falcon can telepathically “see” through the eyes of Redwing and other birds in his vicinity, allowing him to psychically “see” what Redwing sees.
Redwing has also been extensively trained by Falcon in aerial combat and maneuvering, including doing loop-de-loops around enemies and hovering in front of a moving car’s windshield without being hit to provide distractions. He is also trained to retrieve items on command, such as disarming a gun-toting enemy.
An Albatross Around the Neck
Diamond Head, A.I.M.’s Bulldozer android, the gangster Stone Face, Dr. Erik Gorbo, and Grey Gargoyle are villains that Redwing goes up against alongside the Falcon.
Birds of a Feather
When Redwing becomes telepathically linked to Sam, Redwing obeys Falcon’s commands and aids him and Captain America against numerous Super Villains.
When the Falcon joins Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers, Redwing joins as well.
In the Wings
Redwing was captured by archer Mortimer Freebish, who attempted to hold the bird hostage in an effort to defeat the Falcon and thereby, become rich and famous. Once Redwing was freed however, the duo made short work of Freebish.
Falcon soon joined the Avengers, bringing Redwing along into battles against the Absorbing Man and the Grey Gargoyle, where Redwing was once again briefly turned to stone.
Following his transportation into space alongside Falcon during the Grandmaster and Death’s “Contest of Champions,” Redwing joined the Falcon in numerous cases involving the Serpent Society, En Sabah Nur, AKA Apocalypse's Horseman Autumn Rolfson, AKA Famine, and a breakout at the Vault superhuman prison.
During the reconstruction of the then-destroyed Avengers Mansion, Redwing and the construction crew managed to take down Wilbur Day, AKA Stilt-Man, who, along with other Super Villains, was attempting to sabotage the construction. Redwing and Falcon soon learned that due to their psychic link, Falcon was able to telepathically “see” through the eyes of Redwing and other birds in his vicinity, an ability that allowed him to eventually defeat Calvin Zabo, AKA Mister Hyde, with the aid of the Avengers.
While Falcon was with the Avengers, Redwing aided them in tracking down the missing half of the cosmic In-Betweener’s psyche, defeating a new incarnation of Scorpio, and bringing Ebenezer Laughton, AKA Scarecrow, to justice. Redwing’s connection with Falcon was also instrumental in exposing United States Secretary of Defense Dell Rusk as the Red Skull when Redwing acted as a spy to discover Rusk’s true nature.
Falcon and Redwing next aided Captain America in restoring Bucky Barnes, AKA Winter Soldier’s memories, as well as siding with Captain America during the superhuman Civil War that erupted upon the enactment of the Superhuman Registration Act. Following Captain America’s death at the end of the war, Falcon registered with the U.S. government along with Redwing, and the two fought crime in the Harlem area.
