According to Genesis, Noah first sent out a raven to inspect the receding Flood waters.
Genesis 8:7 says Noah released a raven after the ark came to rest and the waters began to decrease. The raven flew back and forth until the waters dried from the earth. Noah then sent a dove, whose repeated returns provided more specific signs about whether vegetation and dry land were available.
This order is frequently reversed in memory because the dove and olive leaf form the story’s most recognizable image. However, Genesis explicitly places the raven first and the dove afterward.
The raven’s behavior is described briefly, while the dove’s three outings receive more narrative attention. That difference helps explain why popular summaries often focus on the dove while overlooking the first bird Noah released.