In Genesis, what bird first returned to Noah with evidence that the floodwaters had receded?
Answer
A dove with an olive leaf
In Genesis, a dove returned to Noah with a freshly plucked olive leaf, showing that the floodwaters had receded.
After the ark rested, Noah first sent out a raven. He then sent a dove to test whether the waters had gone down. The dove returned because it found nowhere to land. After seven days, Noah sent it again, and it came back in the evening carrying an olive leaf.
Noah waited another seven days and released the dove a third time. It did not return, indicating that the land was becoming habitable. The episode is one of the most recognizable scenes in the flood narrative.
The olive branch later became a widespread symbol of peace, although Genesis specifically describes an olive leaf. Another common mix-up is saying the dove was the first bird sent out; the text names a raven before the dove.