The study looked at inbreeding in American crows in New York and California. They found that mating with relatives can lead to lower survival rates and health issues in crow offspring. Surprisingly, the crows still showed a preference for mating with relatives despite these negative effects. This goes against what was expected, as inbreeding is usually avoided in nature. The researchers suggest that sexual conflict may play a role in this behavior. Overall, the study adds to the growing evidence of a puzzling "inbreeding paradox" in crows.