Noah released a raven before sending the dove in the Genesis Flood story.
Genesis 8:6–7 says that after forty days Noah opened the Ark’s window and sent out a raven. The raven went back and forth until the waters had dried from the earth. Noah then sent a dove, whose repeated flights provided more specific signs about whether land was available.
The raven and dove serve different narrative roles. The raven’s behavior is described briefly, while the dove returns to Noah when it cannot find a place to rest, later bringing an olive leaf. The story therefore emphasizes the dove as the clearer messenger of receding waters, even though the raven is the first bird named as being released.
Some retellings omit the raven and begin with the dove because the dove is more memorable. Others substitute an eagle or another bird based on artistic imagination. The Genesis account specifically names a raven first, followed by the dove.