Noah first released a raven from the Ark to test whether the floodwaters had receded.
Genesis 8 says Noah opened the window of the ark and sent out a raven. The bird flew back and forth until the waters dried from the earth. Noah then sent a dove, which returned because it found no resting place. A later dove brought back a freshly plucked olive leaf, showing that vegetation had reappeared.
The dove and olive leaf are much more familiar in popular culture, so people sometimes remember the dove as the first bird released. In the biblical sequence, however, the raven comes first and the dove follows.
The scene marks a transition from judgment to renewal. Noah is waiting for evidence that the ground can support life again, and the birds provide practical signs within the story. The raven’s exact behavior is not elaborated, while the dove’s successive flights receive the narrative’s clearest details.