I always assumed the "bird" to be an attempt to depict the Columbus "Dove" (if that's not what Columbo calls their mark, that's how it's known) with the somewhat crude tool of a pantograph engraver. But there are examples (and not all are Vetta or BMZ) that range from "pretty close" to "...nice try...do it over." But even the crudest have some simplified profile of a bird-like icon, facing left, so whether these were Columbus-authorized, or brazen trademark violators or an "homage" by admirers, there certainly is a pattern. While those in the oval are intended to match very closely to the Columbus logo the Vetta and the unknown "Z" forkcrown have a split tail so might be supposedly a different bird or a trademark "fudge", who knows?
Here's an assortment I grabbed with one online search (note one is clearly a Vetta):