Baby monkey a rare treat at Taronga Zoo

Keen-eyed Taronga Zoo visitors may be treated to a glimpse of a tiny baby monkey after the birth of the first cotton-top tamarin in 10 years.

The rare primate was born over six weeks ago but has only recently started to explore on its own, climbing trees and cheekily snatching food out of its mum's hands.

"It really seems to enjoy eggs, along with little pieces of carrot and sweet potato," primate keeper Alex Wright said on Wednesday.

The 10cm-long infant is too young to determine its sex, but already sports a distinctive hairdo.

"The baby does have an impressive Mohawk, but it's quite flat at this early stage," Ms Wright said.

"Once it gets a bit older we'd expect that little mo to really grow."

Cotton-top tamarins are one of the world's smallest and rarest primates, only growing up to about 26cm (not including their tail).

They are critically endangered after losing 75 per cent of their habitat in Colombia and because of trafficking in the illegal pet trade.