It’s spring and, with the snow mostly faded away, the birds are causing a ruckus in the foliage again.

But exactly which birds are you hearing out there? You have no idea, do you?

So we reached out to Ray Brown, host of the radio show “Talkin’ Birds,’’ which is made at WATD-FM and carried on 16 radio stations, to give us a brief primer on some of the birds you’re likely to hear and to tell us a little about them.

“This is mating season, so your resident birds that are relatively quiet in the wintertime are really belting out their songs, attracting mates and declaring their territories,’’ Brown said.

“The same is true for migrant birds that are not here in the wintertime. They’re coming up, and generally males are establishing territories and singing to attract a female and nesting will begin,’’ said Brown, who also spent many years at classical station WCRB-FM, where he still can be heard making the underwriting announcements.

Brown provided us with audio of the birds so you can match that up with what you’re hearing in the bushes.

Eastern phoebe

The Eastern phoebe is a small bird with dark gray-brown coloring on the back and wings, a little olive-brown or yellow on its sides and breast, and a sooty brown head. It may well be in your backyard because they “nest everywhere,’’ Brown says. They nest under window ledges, building beams, and bridges. The bird is what is called a “name-sayer.’’ Its call is a hoarse-sounding “Fee-Bee.’’

Black-capped chickadee

The black-capped chickadee has gray coloring on its back and wings, and a buff-colored chest and belly. It also has a black throat and, of course, a black cap. It nests by enlarging a small cavity in rotten wood or an old woodpecker hole, or uses a nesting box, Brown says. The nests are usually 5 to 20 feet above ground. Its mating song is “Hey sweetie, hey sweetie’’ in the spring, and year-round its call is “chickadee chickadee dee dee.’’

Tufted titmouse

The tufted titmouse is a small bird, with gray coloring on the back and wings, rust-brown flanks, pale gray on the chest and belly, and a dark gray cap and crest. It also nests in a hole in a tree, either a natural cavity or an old woodpecker hole. It can also use a nesting box. Its nests can range from 3 feet to 90 feet up. Unlike the chickadee, the tufted titmouse apparently does not excavate its own nest hole, Brown says. Its calls include “cheer, cheer.’’

Northern cardinal

The male Northern cardinal (photo at top) has bright red feathers over most of its body with a black mask and chin, and a prominent red crest. The female is a dull orange-brown with red on its wings and tail. It builds a cup-like nest in a well-concealed spot in dense shrubbery or a low tree 3 to 10 feet off the ground. Thirty to 40 years ago, the birds were not seen in New England, but they have been gradually pushing north, along with other birds, Brown says. It has a double voicebox and uses it to make a double whistle that sounds like “what cheer, what cheer, what cheer.’’

White-throated sparrow

The white-throated sparrow has a rust-brown wings and back, a conspicuous white throat, and a black-and-white striped crown with yellow markings between the bill and eyes. Its cup-like nest is usually on the ground, hidden by low shrubs, grass, or ferns. It sometimes nests above ground in shrubs, brush piles, or low trees, but rarely higher than 10 feet. Its song is “Old Sam Peabody-Peabody-Peabody’’ or, as some hear it, “Oh, Sweet Canada-Canada-Canada.’’