Noah sent out a dove that returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf. Genesis 8:10–11 describes this second release of the dove after the bird had first returned because it found no place to rest.
The olive leaf showed Noah that the floodwaters had receded enough for vegetation to emerge or remain accessible. The event is one of the most recognizable scenes in the Flood narrative and has made the dove with an olive branch a widespread symbol of peace and hope. Genesis itself says “olive leaf,” while later artistic traditions often depict a larger olive branch.
This was not the first bird Noah released. Genesis first records a raven, then a dove. The dove was sent out again after another seven days and did not return, indicating that the land was becoming habitable. The bird’s behavior functions as a natural signal within the story.