In the biblical Book of Genesis, a raven is the first bird Noah sends from the Ark to test whether the floodwaters have receded. Genesis 8:7 says Noah releases the raven, which goes back and forth until the waters dry from the earth.
After the raven, Noah sends a dove. The dove finds no resting place at first and returns. Noah sends it again seven days later, and it comes back with a freshly plucked olive leaf. A final release results in the dove not returning, signaling that the land is becoming habitable.
The raven and dove serve different narrative roles, and they are often remembered in the wrong order. Genesis clearly places the raven first. The later olive leaf has become a widespread symbol of peace, renewal, and hope, although the passage itself presents it as practical evidence that vegetation has reappeared.