In Genesis, Noah first released a raven after the floodwaters began to fall. Genesis 8:7 says that Noah sent out the raven, which flew back and forth until the waters dried from the earth.
Noah then sent out a dove in a separate sequence. The dove returned because it found no place to rest, was sent again seven days later, and came back with a freshly plucked olive leaf. A third release of the dove produced no return, signaling that the land was becoming habitable.
The raven and dove episodes are often combined in simplified retellings, but Genesis presents them as different birds with different roles. The raven’s repeated flight is described before the better-known dove and olive-leaf scene.