Looks 100% like a bird to me.  Very stylized certainly, but if any other animal has eyes and beak in relation like that it can only be a turtle.  If it's not an animal I suppose it can be a plant, but I didn't notice anyone getting excited when I mentioned that before as a possible prototype for a S PI hilt.  FYI most (not neccessarily all, but way most) sword decorations worldwide are made to be viewed when the sword is in its typical display position; typically point-down, at the hip or wall, but A/ that doesn't address edge-up/edge-down, and B/ kampilans seem to have been commonly carried rather than worn?...
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	 |