In the Noah’s Ark story, a raven was the first bird Noah sent out after the waters began to recede. Genesis 8:7 says Noah released the raven, which went back and forth until the waters dried from the earth.
Noah then sent a dove to look for evidence that the land was becoming habitable. The dove returned because it found nowhere to rest, and Noah waited seven days before sending it again. On the second flight, the dove came back with a freshly plucked olive leaf.
The raven is often overlooked because the dove became the story’s more recognizable bird. The olive leaf is widely associated with peace and hope, but Genesis first identifies the raven as the scouting bird sent from the Ark.
The account later sends the dove out a third time, and it does not return. These three bird episodes are separate moments in the narrative, so “a dove” is not the answer to the question about the first bird released.