More than 30 zoo-bred regent honeyeaters have been released into the wild in the New South Wales Hunter region in a bid to save the critically endangered species.

The regent honeyeater is one of Australia's rarest bird species, with fewer than 300 left in the wild.

On Thursday, 32 of the striking black and yellow birds were released in the Tomalpin Woodlands, south of Kurri Kurri.

Another 30 of the birds, also bred in captivity at Taronga Zoo, are set to be released in the same location early next week.

Birdlife Australia regent honeyeater recovery coordinator Mick Roderick said that would make it the biggest release yet.

"This is breeding season and as some of these birds flew out of the tents, we actually saw males displaying to females,"

he said.

"So hopefully they'll head off an

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