In the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, the first bird that failed to return was a raven.
Genesis 8 describes Noah opening the ark after the waters had begun to recede. He first sent out a raven, which flew back and forth until the waters had dried from the earth. Noah then sent a dove, beginning a sequence of tests that provided clearer signs about the condition of the land.
The dove returned because it found no place to rest its foot. After seven days, Noah sent it again, and it came back with a freshly plucked olive leaf. A later release showed that the earth was dry enough for Noah and the animals to leave.
The raven and dove have different roles in the narrative. Popular retellings sometimes mention only the dove, so the raven is frequently overlooked. The olive leaf, meanwhile, became a widely recognized symbol of peace and renewal, although Genesis presents it specifically as evidence that the Flood waters were receding.