In Genesis, Noah released a raven before sending out the dove from the Ark.
Genesis 8 says that Noah first sent out a raven after the Flood waters began to recede. The raven flew back and forth until the waters had dried from the earth. Noah then sent a dove to investigate whether the surface had become habitable.
The dove made several flights. On its second outing, it returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf, showing Noah that the waters had diminished. After another interval, Noah sent the dove again, and it did not return. This sequence is why the dove, rather than the raven, became the more familiar symbol of hope and renewed peace.
The raven and dove serve different narrative functions. The raven’s behavior is described briefly, while the dove provides the recognizable sign of vegetation and later land. The passage therefore includes both birds, even though retellings often mention only the dove.