In the Genesis Flood narrative, a dove returned to Noah carrying an olive leaf.
After the waters began to recede, Noah first sent out a raven. He then sent a dove to test whether the ground was becoming dry. The dove returned because it could find no place to rest. Seven days later, Noah sent it out again, and it came back in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf.
A third release produced no return, showing Noah that the waters had receded sufficiently. The olive branch later became a widespread symbol of peace, although Genesis specifically describes an olive leaf brought by a dove. Popular retellings sometimes omit the raven or present the dove as the only bird Noah released.