In the Genesis Flood account, what did Noah’s dove bring back on its second return?

On its second return in the Genesis Flood account, Noah’s dove brought back a fresh olive leaf. Genesis 8:11 says Noah recognized that the waters had diminished when the dove returned with the leaf.

The bird sequence is a practical test of the landscape outside the Ark. The dove first returned because it found no resting place, then returned with the leaf, and later did not return when Noah sent it again. The leaf therefore marks a stage between total inundation and the appearance of fully dry ground.

The olive branch later became a broad symbol of peace, reconciliation, and hope. In the Genesis narrative, however, its immediate role is evidence that vegetation was visible above the receding waters. The text specifically says olive leaf, not a generic branch or fig leaf.