In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim releases a raven after the flood, and it fails to return.
In the flood narrative told in Tablet XI of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim sends out several birds to learn whether the waters have receded. A dove is released first and returns because it finds no place to land. A swallow is then sent and also returns. Finally, Utnapishtim releases a raven, which finds food and does not come back.
The episode resembles the bird test in Genesis but is not identical to it. Genesis has Noah send a raven first, followed by a dove; the Gilgamesh account uses a dove, a swallow, and then a raven. These differences are useful when comparing the two ancient flood traditions.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a Mesopotamian literary work preserved on clay tablets in cuneiform. Its flood hero is Utnapishtim, not Noah, and its story belongs to a different cultural and religious tradition.