In Genesis, Noah first released a raven to test whether the Flood waters had receded.
Genesis 8 says that after the ark came to rest, Noah opened the window and sent out a raven. The raven flew back and forth until the waters dried from the earth. Noah then sent a dove, whose later return with an olive leaf provided a clearer sign that vegetation had reappeared.
The sequence is easy to reverse because the dove is the more famous bird in the story and is closely associated with peace. In the biblical narrative, however, the raven comes first. The raven’s behavior is described briefly, while the dove’s repeated flights receive more attention.
The passage also shows Noah using birds as practical indicators of changing conditions outside the ark. It does not say that the raven brought back a branch or leaf; that detail belongs to the dove’s later flight.