The alternative is descent into the deep darkness.” Turn on your Lens of Truth to see which skull is the only real one (the one nearest the entrance) and grab the slap to rotate the statue to face that one.
Approach the bird statue, and it’ll ask you to “Make my beak face the skull of truth. Approach the face on the wall to be alerted that “The Shadow will yield only to the one with the eye of truth, handed down in Kakariko Village.” Turn on your Lens of Truth to see the face isn’t actually there, so just walk through. Inside, walk forward and longshot over the pit. 9.1 Shadow Temple Progress at this point Total Life