Curious Crusty Primitive Iron Bird

At first I thought this was made of concrete due to its whitish crusty surface, but it is actually iron underneath, which tings when tapped. I found it in New Hampshire and don’t know a thing about it, but it seems like quite an old, folk thing. I love how the body, with five spikes, looks like a hand, and then this very primitive curled head with eyes on either side. It weighs pretty much exactly a pound so perhaps was made as a whimsical weight?  Or perhaps the five spikes for its body served some other practical function? In any case, a great creature I think!

4 1/4" l x 3 3/4" w x 2 7/8" t.  Surface is weathered as evident, white and greenish, with some sand/dirt in the recesses between the spikes, but sound and stable.