In Genesis, Noah first sent a raven from the Ark before sending the dove.
Genesis 8:7 says that Noah sent out a raven after the waters began to recede. The raven went back and forth until the waters dried from the earth. Noah then sent a dove to look for clearer evidence that the land was becoming habitable.
The sequence is important because many retellings mention only the dove. Genesis distinguishes the two birds and gives them different roles in the narrative. The dove’s later return with an olive leaf became the most famous image associated with the Flood story.
The raven is a member of the crow family and is well suited to long-distance flight and scavenging. Genesis does not explain why Noah chose it first, so interpretations should not be presented as certain biblical facts. The text simply records the order: raven first, dove afterward.