After releasing the raven, Noah sent out a dove to test whether the floodwaters had receded. Genesis 8 describes the dove returning because it found no place to rest, then returning later with a freshly plucked olive leaf.
Noah sent the dove out more than once. On the final release described in the passage, it did not return, indicating that the land was becoming habitable. The olive leaf is the specific sign associated with the dove’s second flight, while the bird itself is the test Noah sent after the raven.
The dove and olive leaf became prominent symbols in later art and language. They are often treated as a single image of peace, although Genesis uses them primarily within the story’s practical search for dry ground. The narrative’s order is raven first, dove second.