CLOSED: Cardinal shape and size, but what is it?

While visiting Scottsdale AZ, this morning I spotted a cheerful bird pecking in the grass around the table where I was seated. It was the size and shape of a cardinal, but only the head and a blaze on the chest were vivid red. The back was gray, with a white belly and short pale beak. There was a small red crest on the head. It was very striking with the different colors.
I know nothing about birds of the Southwest--and of course did not have my camera with me. I've been poking around on the internet for an ID, but to no avail. So I turn to my pals on DG!

Thanks in advance.

Sounds like a Pyrrhuloxia, same genus as the Northern Cardinal:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/birdfiles/go/273/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhuloxia

Yep, Pyrrhuloxia.

Resin

Thank you!!
You know, I think it has to be Pyrrhuloxia , because the size, and shape, the locale, beak, etc. all fit. I had come upon photos of this bird in my internet search, but what fooled me was that the head of the bird I saw was completely brilliant red, not just the front, and the demarkation between the back ( pure gray) and the breast (pure white) was so clearly differentiated. It really was an enchanting bird to observe!
Thank you again.

A favorite of mine at my feeders. Brave and usually peaceable, tolerant of other species even when eating. Not an official name but sometimes known as western cardinal or desert cardinal. The males get quite a bit more red during breeding season, looks like they spilled cherry Kool-Aid down their chest.

Thanks all for sharing those informative fact about western Cardinals. I'll be sure to watch/look for them when I re-visit New Mexico in the future. :-)

Thank you, all. My question has been well and thoroughly answered.
Wish I had such a lovely little bird at my Cape Cod feeders!