Noah first released a raven from the Ark to check whether the floodwaters had receded.
Genesis 8:6–7 says that, after opening the Ark’s window, Noah sent out a raven. The bird went back and forth until the waters dried from the earth. This is followed by a different bird test involving a dove.
The raven is often overlooked because the dove becomes the more famous symbol in the next part of the story. Noah sent the dove out three times: first, it returned because it found no resting place; next, it came back with a freshly plucked olive leaf; finally, it did not return.
The raven and dove serve different narrative roles. The raven’s movements provide an initial sign about conditions outside, while the dove’s return with vegetation gives Noah a clearer indication that the waters were receding. In popular retellings, the order is sometimes reversed, but Genesis places the raven first.