A rare red kite will be on public display from today in the Life on Earth gallery in the museum off Millennium Square.

The bird was found immobile in a field last summer. It appeared to have hit a tree as it had a shattered wing and had to be put down.

But it was preserved and has now gone on display for the visitors to the museum to be able to get a close-up look at one of the most impressive sights in the UK skies.

It has a wingspan of 1.7 metres, distinctive forked tail and is a chestnut red colour.

Red kites are currently enjoying a renaissance in Yorkshire and across the UK.

After being hunted to the brink of extinction in the mid-19th century, none remained in England or Scotland.

A programme began in 1989 to reintroduce them, with young kites coming from Scandinavia and Spain. In Yorkshire, 21 red kites were released onto the Harewood Estate in 1999.

Despite remaining on the endangered species list, the birds are now flourishing and the success of the project in Yorkshire can be seen in the fact that Harewood is now one of the most popular sites to view red kites in the country.

Specimens in museums are, however, very rare. Although the museum collections began in Leeds in 1822, right up to the reintroduction project in 1999 there was only one red kite in the entire collection.

Echoing the still-fragile position of the red kite population in the UK, the bird will start out in the "endangered species" area of the museum collection, but it is hoped that as the numbers continue to flourish it can soon be moved to another area of the gallery.

Leeds City Council executive member for leisure Coun John Procter said: "I'm sure bird lovers in particular will be very keen to take a look, so we look forward to having the latest addition to our stunning museum go on show for everyone to see and enjoy."