In Genesis, Noah sent out a dove after the raven to look for dry land. The bird sequence appears after the floodwaters begin to recede and Noah wants to learn whether the earth has become habitable again.
Genesis says Noah first sent a raven, which flew back and forth. He then sent a dove, but it initially returned because it found no place to rest. After seven days, Noah sent the dove again, and it returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf. A later release did not return, indicating that the waters had receded sufficiently.
The dove and olive leaf became widely recognized symbols of peace, renewal, and hope. The narrative itself, however, presents them first as practical signs used by Noah. The story does not say that the dove discovered the ark’s landing place; it served as an indicator of changing conditions around the vessel.