In Genesis, what did the dove bring back to Noah on its second flight?

In Genesis, the dove brought Noah an olive leaf on its second flight.

After the floodwaters began to recede, Noah sent a dove from the Ark to see whether the ground had become visible. The first time, the dove returned without finding a place to rest. On its second flight, it came back carrying a freshly plucked olive leaf.

That leaf showed Noah that the waters had diminished from the earth. Noah sent the dove out once more later, and it did not return, indicating that conditions had changed further. These bird flights form a short sequence in Genesis 8.

The olive branch became a widely recognized symbol of peace, although the Genesis passage specifically describes an olive leaf. This episode should not be confused with Noah’s later vineyard, which appears after he leaves the Ark.