It is observed that the hooded mannikin feeds on seeds of the introduced grass Rottboellia exaltata' as large as rice grains.

They habitually feed by clinging to the stems of the growing grasses and plucking seeds from the inflorescences.

According to the Kalam native, Hooded mannikins are very fond of the algae that forms a scum on stagnant pools and puddles.

They also say that ...most people will eat (hooded munias) but some adult men will not, and neither on the whole will the young unmarried or newly-married men and women... because the munias has big families, and newly-married couple don't want to have a whole lot of children very fast.An unpaired male in healthy condition will sing advertisement songs directed at particularly nothing.

He will begin singing with his head level, and bill opening and closing and a slight hint of bobbing.

However, when a female is near-by, the male may preface his display by flying about with a bit of nesting material.

The head is held level or slightly downward, the throat is pumping and the weee song becomes pulsating.

In the final stage of the display, the head is stretched up fully, the bill is held wide open without any movement of the mandibles.