Noah first released a raven after the floodwaters began to recede.
Genesis 8:7 says Noah sent out a raven, which went back and forth until the waters dried from the earth. The passage then describes a second test using a dove. The raven and dove therefore have different roles in the sequence, although popular retellings often focus mainly on the dove.
Noah sent the dove three times. On its second flight, it returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf, showing that vegetation had reappeared. After the third release, the dove did not return, suggesting that it had found a place to land.
The raven’s behavior is not described as delivering a clear sign in the same way as the olive leaf. The narrative’s careful order—raven first, dove afterward—is an easily overlooked detail. It also explains why the dove and olive branch became the better-known symbols of peace and renewed life.