In Genesis, Noah first sent a raven from the ark after the floodwaters began to recede.
Genesis 8:7 says Noah sent out a raven, which went back and forth until the waters had dried from the earth. The raven is the first bird named in this sequence, before Noah sent a dove to look for signs of dry land.
The later dove episode is more widely remembered. Noah sent the dove three times: it returned when no resting place was found, came back with a freshly plucked olive leaf, and finally did not return. That sequence gave the dove and olive branch a lasting association with peace and the end of danger.
A frequent answer error is to name the dove because it provides the story’s most recognizable image. Genesis, however, names the raven first. The question’s reference to the first bird makes “a raven” the specific answer.