Which birds did Noah send out from the Ark to test whether the waters had receded?

Noah sent a raven and a dove from the Ark to test whether the waters had receded.

Genesis 8:7–12 records both birds. Noah first released a raven, which flew back and forth. He then released a dove, which initially found nowhere to rest, later returned with an olive leaf, and was finally sent out again before remaining away.

The different behavior of the birds helps structure the narrative’s signs of recovery. The raven episode is brief, while the dove’s returns provide the better-known sequence of observations about water levels and vegetation.

Many retellings mention only the dove, because the olive leaf became the story’s most famous image. However, the raven appears first in the biblical account, so both birds are needed for a complete answer.